Zwane denies Swiss trip with Guptas

MINERAL Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has again denied flying to Switzerland with the Guptas to facilitate the sale of the Optimum mine to a company owned by the Guptas and Duduzane Zuma.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Anton Alberts of the Freedom Front Plus, Zwane said he had gone on the trip accompanied by an official from his department.

“I did not facilitate any transaction. I went there to promote mining and (to) address company issues relating to the investment climate in the country in general, and to mitigate imminent retrenchment,” he said.

Zwane also denied that he had any direct or indirect interests in Oakbay or Optimum mines.

Zwane’s response was despite information in leaked documents and emails that he had travelled to Switzerland with the Guptas and their associates in their private jet.

Reports indicated that he had been booked into a fivestar hotel paid for by a Gupta company, Sahara Computers, and that he had been chauf- feured around in a BMW 7 Series motor vehicle.

When he was asked about having travelled to Switzerland, Zwane stated that he gone there on an official trip.

Meanwhile, the cabinet noted media reports on the “leaked emails”, which implicated ministers, government officials and other persons in criminal wrongdoing.

Briefing the media following a cabinet meeting, Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said the cabinet was committed to good governance, and viewed all persons innocent until proven guilty.

“Cabinet urges all who have information about any wrongdoing by government officials or ministers to inform law enforcement agencies so that investigations can be undertaken,” Dlodlo said.

She said some cases have been opened and the police have undertaken to investigate them.

Last week, the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (the Hawks) announced it had launched a probe into the leaked Gupta emails.

Dlodlo urged all those affected by the emails to co-operate with the investigation.